Flyers consider changes as season continues to stutter

Fife Flyers head coach Todd Dutiaume looks set to shake-up the team roster. Pic: Steve Gunn

Published:18:08Thursday 19 November 2015

Fife Flyers head coach Todd Dutiaume has revealed that changes could be made to the roster sooner rather than later, following another poor run of form.

Ten defeats in 15 games since the start of October has left the Kirkcaldy club languishing near the bottom of the Elite League, and Dutiaume suggested that a shake-up could be on the cards.

“We’re reviewing things on a week-to-week basis,” Dutiaume said.

“If we’re making a change it won’t be two months down the road - that’s just too little, too late.

“When a team is in the position we’re in we have to make sure we give ourselves the best possible line-up that will go out and compete.

“If you have players under-performing, gone are the days when we allow it to happen into January, panic and pick up whoever is available.

“From the start of the season you’re always looking to better your team - all clubs do it now - and if we don’t find a way to get consistency out of these guys, of course it has to be a possibility.

“That’s not an idle threat, it’s part of the game. We have a duty of care to make sure this team is performing at its best. If not, we find ways to make that happen.”

Dutiaume was speaking after a poor weekend that saw Flyers fall to Gardiner Conference defeats to both Manchester Storm and Edinburgh Capitals.

“That’s a disappointing weekend for us - especially two teams so close to us in the standings,” he said.

“You have to realise going into a season that you’ll win and lose games, but my biggest issue was that for big parts of those games we were getting out-worked.

“We liked our work ethic right from the start, but we had two teams that looked very confident and out-worked us for big portions.

“When we did wake up we were fully in control of the game. The goals started going in and they had that sense of desperation - but you need to have that desperation and compete level for 60 minutes or you just won’t be successful in this league.”

A cold virus is believed to have infiltrated the Flyers dressing room over the weekend, but Dutiaume slammed down the excuses, saying: “I’ve heard everything from being under the weather to sticks not feeling right, but that’s just excuses because everyone is in the same boat.

“Every team goes through those trials and tribulations throughout the season and it’s easy to point the fingers and try to find reasons for not playing well.

“But the fact of the matter is, we just bumped into two teams that wanted it more.

“The evidence is when we woke up and played like we should be playing, we took it to these teams, and just about made it hockey games, but that’s just not good enough.”